East Bay girls soccer rankings, news notes (Feb. 2)

Dynamic Dougherty Valley High junior Stephanie Amack has been called up to the under-20 women’s U.S. national team for the Four Nations Tournament in La Manga, Spain, beginning Friday.

Amack, 17, is the youngest player on the U.S. under-20 squad and one of three high school players selected, according to Wildcats coach Nate Failing. She was plucked from the U.S. U-18 team player pool at a training camp in Chula Vista last month.

“We were very fortunate to have had her, and now we wish her well,” Failing said of Amack in an email.

The U.S. U-20 women’s team is preparing for CONCACAF Qualifying in Panama (March 1-11) — a tournament that will send four teams to the 2012 U-20 Women’s World Cup.

Last season Amack and Briana Gaines, now at SMU, led the Wildcats to the North Coast Section Division II title with a late-season uprising.

Amack has played off and on this season because of national team duties, and the team has struggled before surging lately. Dougherty Valley (6-8-4, 3-5-1 DFAL) upset Dublin 1-0 on Jan. 13 and is 2-0-2 in its last four games overall. Wildcats freshman Bronte Cintrone highlighted a 3-2 win over Miramonte on Wednesday with two goals and an assist.

In other Wildcats news, senior goalkeeper Heather Seeley, a four-year starter, signed her letter of intent with Colorado College. Gaines, by the way, played in 19 soccer games at SMU last fall as a freshman forward, getting four goals and two assists.

GRIZZLIES TO BECOME RAIDERS: California seniors Jaclyn McQuiston and Nichole Slaughter have signed with the NAIA Division II Southern Oregon Raiders, who finished 11-7-1 last fall.

EBAL QUICK STRIKES: San Ramon Valley scored at a dizzying clip in a 5-0 rout of Amador Valley Thursday. After Alexa Vandevanter scored in the third minute, Reilly Parker, Morgan Idso and Parker (again) struck in the 16th, 17th and 18th minutes. Defender Amanda Davis scored the fifth goal of the half. The Wolves (14-1-4, 8-1-3, 27 points) remained a point ahead of Monte Vista (12-0-7, 7-0-5, 26) in the standings. … The young Mustangs beat Granada 2-0 courtesy of second-half goals by freshmen Lindsay Rood and Arianna Zamora. All signs point toward a championship showdown between the Wolves and Mustangs on Feb. 9 at SRV. The arch-rivals fought to a 2-2 draw at Monte Vista on Jan. 17. … In Carondelet’s 2-0 win over Livermore Thursday, Cassidy Nicks and Meggi Fisher each had a goal and an assist in the second half. … Foothill earned a 1-1 draw with California thanks to a brilliant goal by the Falcons’ sophomore Haley Lukas in the 11th minute.

DVAL DOOZY: College Park still owns the DVAL championship, but Clayton Valley turned the tables on the Falcons on Thursday. Janelle Bandayrel scored in the 32nd and 38th minutes, and the Eagles held on for the home victory. College Park (14-5-2, 10-1-0 DVAL) made it interesting late on a goal by Ashly Dickinson in the 78th minute. Megan Elms made four saves for the second-place Eagles (9-7-4, 7-2-1).

COLTS GALLOPING: MVAL-leading Logan took another step toward a league championship with a 3-0 win over Newark Memorial. Paloma Zermeno paced the dynamic Colts’ attack with two assists, and freshman Jessica Banuelos had a goal and an assist.

NOTE TO READERS: Rankings are based on results in key games, observation, information, and gut instinct. Coaches, serious fans and players should feel free to chime in with their thoughts on any soccer-related issues.

In Division I: SRV has a terrific veteran cast and ample motivation after coming up short the last two years. Carondelet and MV won’t give and inch. Logan is an emerging power with an attractive style, but it’s tough to overlook those two losses to SRV by a combined 9-0. No shame, though. The Colts did better the second time in the TV Classic playing without a key playmaker. Sleeper: Granada.
In Division II: O’Dowd looks like a beast. Otherwise, it’s a crapshoot. Vastly improved Dublin and Campo, which has struggled of late, could threaten. The DFAL tends to shine in Div. II postseason.
Sleeper: Piedmont.

soccerfan

Does anyone know the score of the Campo Miramonte game tonight that is currently being played?